My Birthday Celebrations…

I have entered into a new decade of my life and I’m entirely grateful to God for allowing me to reach this milestone and be able to celebrate it with good health, awesome family, wonderful friends and my Fiancé. Last year Kevin left Barbados to study for a year in England and I told him not to do anything since he was travelling the following day. I’m not an overly fussy person but I do appreciate the little things in life. So for the BIG 30, I also told Kevin not to overdo as our wedding is around the corner and we should be focused on that.  If there is one thing I can say about Kevin, is that he listens and very carefully too. This is a quality that I truly admire from him.  All I asked for was a cake, I really did need anything else but a cake.

30's Birthday Celebrations

OOTD: Girl Friend’s Edition…

“It’s nice to have friends that know all about you and still love you anyway”

“To have a friend and be a friend is what makes life worthwhile”

Let me first wish my good friend Charlia a Happy Birthday! This weekend activities were surrounded by celebrating another milestone. Life is too short to be anything but happy, so any opportunity that arises we make sure we make the best of it.

It’s our annual crop over season in Barbados and we decided to celebrate by attending an all inclusive breakfast party under the name "Awaken" been held by Brewster’s Road Crew, which was at the Golden Grove Estate St Philip.  It was slated for 3:00am to 10:00pm. We arrived at 5.35am and stayed till 10.30am. Take a look at what I wore and please excuse the quality of these pics: 

Dress: Siren (Canada) | Bag & Shoes: Barbados

I Got A Scalp Test From A Certified Trichologist…

I attended the annual Girlfriends Expo event and the SoftSheen-Carson booth was the most attractive because there was a certified Trichologist conducting scalp test on anyone who wanted to know the state of their scalp or had scalp issues, that they wanted addressed. He is from Jamaica. I was so excited that I sat patiently waiting on my turn which was about an hour since four ladies were ahead of me. What impressed me the most was Karl Richmond meticulousness with each patron rather than trying to get as many people in and out of his chair.

Certified Hair Trichologist : Karl Richmond

Girlfriends Expo @ Barbados Concorde Experience…

Girlfriends Expo is an annual event which has been in existence for the past 5years. For the last two years it has been held at the Barbados Concorde Experience.  British Airways Concorde 

G-BOAE or Alpha Echo is a legendary aircraft which has a stunning combination of advanced engineering and elegant beauty.  It can travel twice the speed of sound, some 1380 m.p.h or 23 miles per minute. This is faster than a riffle bullet. It normally takes 8 hours from Barbados to England but the Concorde would have gotten you there in 4 hours, pretty awesome right. G-BOAE has made Barbados its final home when all the fleet were retired in 2003, but was opened on April 16, 2007 in Barbados. Take a look at what it looks like:

Inside of British Airways Concorde G-BOAE

Girls Night Out: The Birthday Celebration…

"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down”

“A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself”

Today is one of my closest girlfriends birthday and to celebrate I took her out to dinner at Tapas Restaurant for a relaxing, girl catch up kind of night. Dionne is no stranger to this blog as she was featured here before. We don’t talk everyday but when we do talk it’s like we never missed a day before. She’s like a sister from another mother, love her to bits.

We arrived on time and were seated within 5mins. The restaurant wasn't full but the ambiance was nice and by the time we were ready to leave it had filled up.  I don’t like eating heavy foods after 9.00pm so I skipped starters and went straight for a main course. We both ordered the Pork Tenderloin which came with mashed potatoes, with bits of bacon in it. As usual my drink was a mudslide but Dionne ordered Passionate Paradise.  The mudslide I had at TGIF is still the best I've tasted and unfortunately they are now closed down.

The pork was very well seasoned and tasted delicious, thumbs up to the chef. We were so stuff that we didn't bother with desert but the restaurant were so nice to bring over a bowl of ice-cream with a strawberry in it and a sparkling candle to end the night on a fantastic note. Dionne was surprised as seen on her face below. Here are a few pics from that night and I did her make-up:

L-R Tomi & Dionne

FANTASIA In Concert With My Girls...

Fantasia Barrino was in Barbados on September 15, 2013 and her performance was energetic and awesome. The only down side was the concert was too short as she performed for about 50mins.  I went with my girls and we had a great time, awesome start to my Birthday!

Food | Drinks | Great Convos + Laughter = Girls Night Out

                “It’s nice to have friends that know all about you and still love you anyway”

                       “To have a friend and be a friend is what makes life worthwhile”

It’s so relaxing and refreshing to hang out with your girlies to chit chat about everything in life whether you are the topic or otherwise it’s always a fantastic time. These girls crack me up all the time and definitely never a dull moment with them.

Date night with my girls almost didn't happen because all the places to eat were all booked up and we forgot to make a reservation. We drove around to two main eating places and ended up at TGI Fridays. Thank goodness they had some available tables and we were seated within 5mins.

In a blink of an eye our waiter came over and introduced herself and we placed our orders. She was very friendly and made us feel comfortable while we waited for our food.  Charlia had a Southwest Burger with regular potato fries, Nicole had a Jack Daniel Burger with sweet potato fries and I had a Cheese Burger with sweet potato fries *yumyum*and of course the drink of the night was Mudslides.  This has been the best mudslide I have ever tasted in my life, kudos to the bar tender for making such amazing drinks.

  

Cheers to making great memories and good friendships. Here are a few pics of how our night went:

(Left-Right - Tomi, Charlia & Nicole)

Tomes Edition Hair “TREATS” ::Spotlight:: Dionne’s Wash Day...

Over the course of my life I have been blessed with a lot of supportive friends that have been cheering me on from the sidelines, since I started my Healthy Hair Journey. So I decided as a token of my appreciation, to give some of them hair “Treats” compliments Tomes Edition. Without further adieu let’s introduce the lady that knows me inside and out and our friendship is 18 years strong and today’s highlight Ms Dionne..

Dionne isn't on a hair journey and wants to start a Healthy Hair Journey but she’s just too darn lazy even though she has thick beautiful full shoulder length hair.  

::Let’s get to know Dionne alil bit more::

Dionne has been relaxed for 14 years and gets a relaxer 4 times a year. Straight off Dionne is practicing healthy hair habits by stretching her relaxer but she doesn't even know she is lol.  I had a look at the products she uses on her wash days which comprises of Elasta Soy OYL UltraHydration Shampoo and Deep Conditions with Elasta Dpr 11 Deep Penetrating Conditioner and moisturizes with Mizani Coconut Souffle Light Moisturizing Hairdress.  As you can see her products are protein heavy and I felt it on her strands which were rough. She also uses heat every wash day by blow drying and on relaxer day as well.

My Vacation to New York, Toronto and Calgary...

I went on holiday for 2 weeks as you may have known and I enjoyed every minute of it.  Travelling to Calgary from Barbados is usually very expensive so an opportunity came up and I decided to grab it fast   I haven’t seen my good friend Nikita in like forever so the opportunity to hang with her, I took it in a heartbeat. I've never been to New York before so I needed someone to show me around - Nikita was an awesome guide; we got to see so many places in the short space of time of 1 1/2 days. In addition her accommodating tour guide skills, she also makes unique jewelry and her pieces can be found at (LaNomRahDesigns), be sure to check it out!!! From NYC we went onto spend 1 day in Toronto with Kevin’s cousin and the other days were spent in Calgary with my family.

Take a look at some of the stuff I got to do and the people I spent my vacay with.

::New York City w/ Nikita & Kevin::

Please click image to enlarge

Tomes Edition Hair "Treats" - Spotlight: Ria's Wash Day

Over the course of my life I have been blessed with a lot of supportive friends that have been cheering me on from the sidelines, since I started my Healthy Hair Journey. So I decided as a token of my appreciation, to give some of them hair “Treats” compliments Tomes Edition. Without further adieu let’s introduce my lil sister (not blood related but I love her like one regardless) and today’s highlight Ms Ria..

Ria isn’t on a hair journey but wants to start a Healthy Hair Journey as the thought of having long beautiful healthy hair intrigues her.  

::Let’s get to know Ria alil bit more::

1)      How long have you been relaxed?
         Ria: 15 years but I have gone back natural and texturized my hair during this time.

2)      How often do you relax your hair?
         Ria: Every 4-6 weeks.

3)      What hair products do you use & how do you use them on your wash days?
         Ria: Whatever the hairdresser uses. I hardly wash my own hair and when I have to I 

          just use whatever is at home 

4)      Do you use heat? If yes how often?
         Ria: I do, at least once a week.

Before starting Ria’s wash day I checked her hair to access it so I would know how to go about her wash day. She is 3 weeks post relaxer so her wash day should be easy breezy. Here are the steps I took for Ria’s Wash Day [I take similar steps]

Tomes Edition Hair “TREATS” ::Spotlight:: Karla's Wash Day...

Over the course of my life I have been blessed with a lot of supportive friends that have been cheering me on from the sidelines, since I started my Healthy Hair Journey. So I decided as a token of my appreciation, to give some of them hair Treat's” compliments Tomes Edition. Without further adieu let’s introduce one of my good friends and today’s highlight Ms Karla...

Karla is not on a hair journey but she wants to take better care of her hair ::Hair Stat:: she keeps her hairstyle in a short state.  

::Let’s get to know Karla alil bit more::

1)    How long have you been relaxed?

       Karla:  I probably got my first relaxer when I was around 6 or 7 so basically all 
       my life.

2)    How often do you relax your hair?

       Karla: With this shorter style I probably do a touch-up or a full relax every 4 weeks 
       or so.

3)    What hair products do you use & how do you use them on your wash days?

       Karla: I am a no fuss person and was fascinated by the whole process of a Tomes Edition
   ” wash day as my wash day is not so much as a day, but about an 1 or 2 tops! I 
       normally just shampoo with whatever shampoo I have on hand which has been Suave  
       Professionals Almond & Shea Butter moisturizing shampoo, after that, I do condition with either  Suave Professionals Conditioner for dry or frizzy hair or    
      Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner. 

       If I am in the mood I might let the conditioner sit for an hour or so before washing 
       it out. After washing out the conditioner I usually use a towel to get off the excess 
       moisture, and then apply a mixture of the ORGANIC Root Stimulator Olive Oil  
       Moisturizing Hair Lotion, Soft and Beautiful Botanicals 3-N-1 Botanicals Oil before 
       I either blow dry or wrap and let air dry.

4)    Do you use heat? If yes how often?

       Karla: Yes! I normally curl all of my hair once a week with my J2 Flatiron and then 
       some mornings where necessary I might do a touch up to the areas where the curls 
       might have gone flat.

Before starting Karla’s Wash Day, I made an assessment of her hair to decide on what was necessary and what products were needed. She is getting a touch up the following weekend at 6 weeks post so here are the steps I took for Karla’s Wash Day [I take similar steps]

[1] Prepooed with EVOO & EVCO mixed together on her scalp & CON Intensive